Alternative Responses to the Depression
Consider how FDR was criticized from both the right and the left when he instituted his New Deal policies in the United States. How did Canadians respond to their government's dealings with the economy? How did this vary by region or by social class?
In 1934, King decided that the economy would not fix itself, rather it would need direct action from the Federal Government. There were people in Canada like William Alberhart who became the leader of the Social Credit Party which spoke, “directly to farmers and those hard pressed to make mortgage repayments.” There were other groups that rose up such as the Communist Party of Canada. Unfortunately for them, their group did not garner much support and their ideas of, “international revolution were seen as irrelevant to Canada.” Later, those in Bennetts work camps for the unemployed began to rise up. These men only wanted the Workmens Compensation Act to be extended to them as well. “As a result the Communist- inspired Relief Camp workers union gained considerable influence in the camps.” 1,000 men from the camps went to Ottawa to demand wages and work. The reaction varied from region and social class, when King was returned to office, he got rid of the camps bringing back homelessness and starvation. The poor were angrier than ever, many even went on strike for better working conditions.
ReplyDeleteBennett's New Deal promised a more progressive taxation system, a maximum work week, a minimum wage, closer regulation of working conditions, unemployment insurance, health and accident insurance, a revised old-age pension and agricultural support programs. Nevertheless, Bennett lost the October 1935 general election. it was a election hail marry play that he knew and the people knew would not be fully enacted so he lost.
ReplyDeleteAfter I read this text, I feel that FDR's New Deal policies did not look as good at the beginning as they did once the effects of them were concrete. Before they took effect, of course there was going to be skepticism, especially when dealing with something as serious as the economy. With the economy already the worst it had ever been, there was a real fear that the policies could make the already diminishing economy even worse, and therefore making it even harder to recover at all. Also, Canada ended up being worse off after trying to emulate them after the US rather than coming up with an entirely new plan to their specific countries needs.
ReplyDeleteThe government will always be criticized by their policies they put in place. It will never fail because there is no way to please everyone. FDR was looked up to by the canadians because they saw his New Deal policies and noticed that some had worked to improve the economy. The biggest problem was there were so many different groups and leaders that were trying to please a specific group of people that the government was all over the place. They were also trying to see how other countries reacted to different "depressions" and almost mimic their strategies. This of course would not work because every countries problems are different. Like Lauren said reactions varied by different regions and social groups because there were so many, but obviously the poor would be more angry than most because of the conditions they were put in.
ReplyDeleteFDR was criticized because many of Americans were conservatives and they wanted the economy to figure itself out. Hoover did not implement any policies and thats the way the conservatives wanted things to be but FDR disagreed and said change must be made. Once the change started working, people became lenient towards the new policies FDR put into place. Canada, trying to follow in FDR's footsteps ended up in worse position than the were. There were not in the proper position to be making changes, or at least the changes that were put into place.
ReplyDeleteThere is always complaints everywhere in this world. Poverty is inevitable even in the wealthiest country. Either King nor Bennett could please all people in Canada. During Bennett's New Deal, the conservatives were not happy with him. King's lassize faire made his people mad, although he learned his lesson and eventually understood the importance of direct government intervention, he still could not get all the people happy. I would say, the ultimate savior is the war. The war brought everyone back into work and generated factory production for war supply.
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